HAL unveiled the design of the scale model of the HLFT-42 at the 14th edition of Aero India (2023), which was held in Bangalore.

The Indian Air Force has expressed its intent to use the HLFT-42 in the future to replace the existing BAE Hawk 132 jet trainers.

[1][2][3] The concept for the HLFT-42 was initiated in 2017, and officially unveiled at Aero India 2023 by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

[4] Its primary role is to replace the Indian Air Force's current BAE Hawk jet trainers and serve as the trainer for future fighter jets, including the HAL Tejas Mk2 and HAL AMCA.

These weapons may include close-combat-missiles (like ASRAAM) and beyond-visual-range missiles (such as Astra), which effectively transform the HLFT-42 into a fully-fledged fighter jet.